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6. Supporting Women with Children

Mother Daughter Retreat in Collaboration with Planned Parenthood

For several years, the First Universalist Church of Minneapolis has collaborated with the local branch of Planned Parenthood to offer yearly, a day-long retreat for women and their daughters ages nine to twelve. Participants use the time to discuss the changes that occur during puberty, adolescence and to discuss how to develop responsible relationships. Through discussion, creative projects, and trust-building exercises, mothers and daughters interact with each other and with their peers.

Sharing a day together in a relaxed retreat setting encourages mothers and daughters the unique opportunity to learn more about each other and to enrich their relationship. Father Son retreats, modeled after the Mother Daughter Retreats, have also been offered through the local Minnesota/South Dakota Planned Parenthood branch. The retreats have been highly successful. Here are some of responses that daughters gave after participating:

• Now I can understand the changes I am going through.
   
• I won’t be as shy to talk to my mom about stuff like sex.
   
• Learning about periods was the most helpful part of the day. Now I don’t feel so uncomfortable talking about puberty.
   

Here are some reflections of mothers who participated with their daughters:

• Helping us moms relax, visualize ourselves as teens, and remembering what it was like—that was so helpful, because I will better relate to what my daughter is thinking.
   
• The blind walk in the woods (each daughter served as “eyes” to her blindfolded mother) was useful to me in that I trusted my daughter in a new way.
   
• Because of this day, we are more open with questions and answers about sexuality. Also, I think we’re seeing each other more as people, not just “my mother” or “my daughter.”
   

Note: Planned Parenthood retreats for mothers and daughters, and for fathers and sons, are not offered on a widespread basis across the continent. The Minnesota/South Dakota retreats began when an individual church contacted the local branch of the agency and inquired about a collaborative offering. If your church or fellowship is interested in such programs, you are encouraged to call your local branch of Planned Parenthood to inquire about such a possibility.